What Are Umbilical Cord Stem Cells?
Cord blood is the blood that remains in the placenta and the remainder of the umbilical cord after it is detached from a newborn baby. Some parents choose to retain some of the cord blood saved after the birth of their baby because it contains stem cells.
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Identification
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Some of the cells in umbilical cord blood are not yet developed as red or white blood cells or platelets and instead are used to produce other blood cells. These cells are known as stem cells.
Function
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Umbilical cord stem cells are used both for bone marrow transplants and for regenerative treatment, which is used to repair organs and other tissues in the body that have been damaged by disease.
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Types of Uses
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With transplants, cord blood can be used to treat certain types of leukemia, lymphoma and several types of blood disorders. Restoratively, umbilical cord stem cells are used to treat Lou Gehrig's disease, heart disorders, type one diabetes, spinal cord or brain injuries, hearing loss, liver disease, stroke and cerebral palsy, according to the National Cord Blood Registry.
Benefits
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Umbilical cord stem cells can be used not only to treat illness in the baby from whom the cells were taken, but also other members of the child's family. There is a 1-in-217 chance that you or someone in your family will someday need stem cells as part of transplant, according to the National Cord Blood Registry.
Banking
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If you wish to store your baby's cord blood privately, there are private cord blood banks that allow you to do so in exchange for an annual or monthly fee. Some people choose to donate their cord blood to a public bank, where it can be used by anyone whose bone marrow is a match for the cells.
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